A Single Woman’s Prayer

Yesterday, I heard one of the bravest confessions I’ve ever heard in public. The church we attend has a space in the service for people to share their own written prayers of lament or celebration. Most are heartfelt, and a couple have been quite remarkable. Last summer, an expression of pain from a mom whose baby died shortly after birth stuck echoed inside of me for days, and helped me understand how to pray for this young couple.

During Sunday morning’s service, a woman just a few years younger than I who has never been married stood before the congregation to share her words about her experience of singleness. She is a bright professional woman with a deep and abiding faith – faith enough to stand in front of a couple hundred people and speak her pain while voicing her hope in God. I was so moved by her extraordinary courage and honesty that I asked if I might share her words with you today.

Lord I have waited for so long for someone to spend my life with.

How long have I waited Lord?

My soul is undone in years of waiting,

as I watch each tree grow from seedling to

spreading shade, so have I waited.

In the early years I saw the first branches

and leaves and thought “that’s fine,

mine will come. My turn will come.”

Then seasons gave way to years, one, two, ten, twenty and I see the trees growing